Saturday, June 6, 2009

India releases $2,200 car ( CHEAPEST WORLDWIDE)

The LA Times reports on the release of Tata Motors' Nano, a car that costs as much as a nice notebook computer. A million people have applied, but because Tata is only making about 60,000 this year, they'll only receive a Nano if they're chosen in a lottery.

The Nano will start at $2,200 after taxes and dealer costs, while the more expensive CX and LX models with heat, air conditioning and power brakes will go for as much as $3,800.

The Nano is about the size of a Smart Car, which it closely resembles. The four-door vehicle has the smallest footprint and turning radius of any car in India, the company said. At just 10 feet long and less than 5 feet wide, it has a single windshield wiper and gets about 47 miles to the gallon from a two-cylinder engine that is hardly bigger than an outboard motor. With its limited power and top speed of about 65 mph, analysts said, it will be largely limited to city driving.